[Dailydrool] Automatic Car Doors and Dogs

[Diane Surman]

Although I've had many cars over the years for my multi dog family, the car 
that was the most convenient for transporting dogs was the mini van. I had 3 
Dodge Caravans over the years and then 2 years ago got a Chrysler Town and 
Country van after having numerous Jeeps in between.

I have to caution anyone that buys any kind of vehicle with doors that open 
automatically.  The Town and Country was the only van I ever had with 
automatic doors and I found them to be extremely dangerous.  I would NEVER 
purchase a vehicle with automatic doors again.  My younger Basset almost got 
her head caught in the automatic door as it was sliding open. She was in a 
hurry to jump out at the vet and it was only by the grace of God, that she 
didn't end up tangled up in that door.  It certainly would have killed her.

Then I had the door open by itself on me.  I was on a busy street at rush 
hour and out of the blue, the thing slid open.  At the time, my Collie was 
in the back and I screamed Murray Stay as I jumped out of the front of the 
van to get to him before he jumped on the road.  It then opened again on me 
while I was shopping and alone.  I took it to be repaired and they couldn't 
figure out why it was opening on its own, so I got rid of it.  I am now back 
to driving a Jeep.  This time around, I had my husband make me 2 steps out 
of Styrofoam and the dogs can all easily get in and out of it.

I just want to caution anyone with automatic doors, that they can be 
dangerous.

Diane